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Paula Penna (Director; Voice/Piano/Early Childhood Music Specialist)
Master of Music Education degree in music education/arts administration (full scholarship), Florida State University School of Music. Bachelor of Music degree in music education, Manhattanville College, NY. Further studies in vocal performance at the Hartt School, University of Hartford. Taught in the public schools of New York and Connecticut for 7 years; has taught voice and piano for 18 years. Holds permanent certification in PreK-12 music education, State of New York and provisional certification in PreK-12 music education, State of Connecticut. Supervisory experience includes post as Associate Director of Educational Outreach at Manhattan School of Music, New York City. As a clinician, Vocal Soloist Adjudicator for the Nutmeg Show Choir Festival, Connecticut. Member of CMEA, MTNA, MENC, Musical Club of Hartford. Honors include Pi-Kappa Lambda International Music Honor Society, Full Scholarship and Teaching Assistantship, FSU, and the Presser Foundation Scholarship.
Ms. Penna is happiest when around children, and absolutely loves the art and craft of teaching music. She resides in Manchester with her two musical daughters, ages 6 and 9.
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Rebecca Francis (Piano/Voice)
Bachelor of Music, piano performance, Ithaca College. Rebecca has been teaching private and classroom music for 6 years. She has worked with the Simsbury Summer Theater for Youth, the Killingly Repertory Theater, the Seven Angels Theater, and the Bradley Playhouse. Rebecca won the First Prize at the Talcott Mountain Piano Concerto Competition and the Audrey Thayer Piano Competition. Rebecca is also on faculty of the Loomis Chafee School. In addition to teaching, Rebecca has substantial performance and accompanist experience.
Charity Lowell (Voice/Piano/Early Childhood)
Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance, University of Hartford, Hartt School of Music on Talent Scholarship; Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance, University of Connecticut. Charity is a talented teacher who prides herself on the ability to communicate concepts to her students in a clear manner according to the needs and learning styles of her students. She is the Soloist/Alto Section Leader at the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, Center Church Hartford, and First Church of Christ in Glastonbury. Charity was the Music and Drama Coordinator for the Windham Tolland 4-H camp.
Susan Knapp Thomas (Harp)
Susan Knapp Thomas, harpist, received her Bachelor of Music Degree from the Eastman School of Music, and is a well-known Chamber, Orchestral and Solo Concert Artist and teacher throughout Connecticut and Southern New England. Susan maintains an active seasonal schedule with The Hartford Symphony and the Waterbury Symphony, and performed as harpist for the U.S. Coast Guard Band from 1987-2002. Ms. Thomas is also on the faculty of Central Connecticut State University. Several of her students are repeat winners of several area competitions, and perform regularly. She has coached many student ensembles, and since 2002 has developed, marketed and run her own yearly student summmer course program. Her students were first and second and third prize winners in the American Harp Society Connecticut Chapter Harp Competition in the spring of 2005. Ms. Thomas is a regular contributing writer to "The Harp Column" magazine.
Ms. Thomas lives in Bloomfield with her husband, Brad, and their Australian Shepherds, Tillie and Pepper. When not playing the harp, Susan enjoys training and trialing her dogs in the sport of agility, traveling with her husband and anything outdoors. Please see Susan's website Susan Knapp Thomas
Maria Yates (Voice/Piano/Guitar/Bass Guitar/Trumpet/Early Childhood)
Bachelor of Music, Music Engineering Technology, Ball State University. Maria is a multi-talented musician on several instruments and voice who has been teaching around the country for 8 years. She is an avid composer who also performs in area bands. In addition to her musical career, Maria has a strong interest in astronomy/physics and has been a Planetarium Performer at the Childrens Museum of West Hartford. Maria recently developed a non-profit organization which organizes and presents multicultural concerts and events.
Katie M. Frampton (Violin, Viola, Piano, Violin Ventures)
Bachelor of Music, Music Education, University of Hartford, Hartt School of Music. Currently teaches orchestra and general music in the Avon Public Schools. Besides being a certified teacher in Connecticut, Katie is the Children's Music Director at the First Baptist Church in West Hartford, and teaches at the Farmington Suzuki String Camp during the summer. Last summer Katie performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Please visit Katie's website at www.katieframpton.com
Dessie Vaughan (Piano)
Dessie has performed throughout the world as a piano, vocal and synthesizer performer. Apart from her native country of Bulgaria, she has played in the USA, Greece, Yugoslavia, Macedonia, Cyprus, Switzerland, Israel, Egypt, Tunisia, Dubai and others. Dessie has performed for the Bulgarian National Radio and other private radio channels. She performed the 12 compositions included in the Nine Watermelons CD, whose original music, written by her father, Todor Gerov, is an inspiring journey in various styles. Dessie is a member of the Musical Club of Hartford. Dessie grew up in an artistic atmosphere. Her father, Todor Gerov, is a well-known musician and composer in the Bulgarian music community. Her mother, Anka Gerova, performed both as a professional classical ballet dancer and as a Bulgarian folk dancer. Please see Dessie's website, Nine Watermelons
Mirela Panaitisor (Violin/Piano/Violin Ventures/Early Childhood)
Ms. Panaitisor is an accomplished violinist and seasoned teacher. She graduated from the Music Academy of Bucharest, Romania. She obtained her Double License as a violin teacher and violin player, and earned her Teacher Exam in violin pedagogy, as part of the teacher evaluation program. Ms. Panaitisor has taught students all over the world. In Romania, she was a violin teacher at the George Enescu Music High School, where her students won over 18 awards in national and international competitions, and were seen on television and stage programs. In Tunisia, Ms. Panaitisor was an Assistant Professor of violin at the Superior Institute of Music in Sousse. As a violinist, she has performed with the Philharmonic Orchestra in Romania, where she played concerts in Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Great Britain. She toured France with the Romanian National Opera Orchestra. Ms. Panaitisor speaks fluent English, Romanian, and French, and is partially proficient in Spanish.
Rebecca McNair (Piano/Voice)
Rebecca McNair received her undergraduate degree in Piano Performance from Huntingdon College and a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. As a member of the Music Teachers National Association, she has taught piano in both summer music camp and private studio capacities and has accompanied vocalists and ensembles throughout Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Connecticut in such venues as Guilford College and Take Note choral ensemble. Past performances have included winning the Helen Boykin Piano Competition as well as the premieres of new works for piano at the 2006 Society of Composer's Conference.
Adam Rose (Guitar)
Bachelor of Music Degree in Guitar Performance, Hartt School of Music. Adam is a brilliant classical guitarist, with a gift for working with children and adults alike.
 David Giardina (Guitar)
Bachelor of Arts degree, Guitar Performance, St. Anselm College and further studies at the Longy School of Music. David has been performing and teaching for over 20 years in the areas of classical, Latin Jazz, Standard Jazz, Blues, and Flemenco music. He is on faculty at Manchester Community College, Trinity College, and St. Joseph College. David has been featured on cds released by the CT Classical Guitar Society, of which he is a founding member. David is also an award recepient and teaching artist with the CT Commission on Culture and Tourism.
Jonathan Chatfield (Piano)
Bachelor of Arts, piano performance/jazz studies, Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. Certified music teacher, grades k-12, with concentration in vocal direction. Jonathan has been a sought-after piano teacher for 11 years in Connecticut and Ohio. He is also on faculty of the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, Avon High School, Kingswood-Oxford High School, the Learning Corridor, and the Center for Creative Youth. He is an avid performer, with credits including the Hartford Jazz Festival, Baltimore Blues Festival, Bluestock Festival (Memphis), Mohegan Sun Wolf Den, and CD credits on the Verve Label.
Julie Hill (Violin/Piano)
Master of Music degree in violin, Ithaca College. Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance and pedagogy, Eastman School of Music, NY. Julie has been teaching for over 30 years, both privately and in public and parochial schools. She taught kindergarten and 6th grade in public schools in Glastonbury, Willimantic and Newington. In addition to her career in music, Julie also has had a successful 17-year career in banking.
Yu-Chen Michelle Chang (Piano)
Master of Music Education Degree candidate, Hartt School of Music. Master of Music Degree, piano performance from University of Northern Illinois. Teacher since 1996, holding various positions in the United States.
Kimberly Pedersen (Voice/Piano/Early Childhood)
A Bachelor degree candidate in music education at the University of Hartford (2007), Kimberly is a dynamic and inspiring teacher who loves children. Kimberly has been teaching privately and in the public schools of Connecticut, such as Manchester High, Simsbury High, the Union School, and the Magnet School at the University of Hartford. Kimberly is a church soloist, and has won numerous awards and honors.
Tyler Ogilvie (Brass/Woodwind/Percussion)
Bachelor of Music degree, Ithaca College. Tyler is a certified public school music teacher in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, where he presently directs the bands in the Bolton school district. Tyler is an accomplished trumpet player who has won awards and honors for his work.
Jennifer Murray (Viola/Violin/Piano)
Bachelor of Music, Viola Performance/Music Education, University of Hartford, Hartt School of Music. Music Diploma, South Carolina Governors School for the Arts. Jennifer is the String Ensemble Director at the Artist Collective, and was the Assistant Director of the Simsbury High School String Orchestra. Jennifer has studied with some of the finest teachers and coaches around the world, including the Miami String Quartet, the Emerson String Quartet, and the Adaskin String Trio.
Amorette Languell (Clarinet/Piano/Woodwinds)
Bio coming soon!
Megan Buswell (Early Childhood)
Bio coming soon!
Alicia Saunders (Harp Apprentice Teacher)
Alicia is a senior in high school who will be pursuing a college degree in music education. A longtime student of Susan Knapp Thomas, Alicia has been an excellent, dedicated harpist who also has a wonderful gift for working with children.
Becky Mitchell (Voice, Guitar, Early Childhood)
Bio coming soon!
Grethen Taubl (Viola, Violin, Piano)
Bio coming soon!
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